Florida Senate - 2012 (NP) SR 2118 By Senator Braynon 33-03210-12 20122118__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution commending the National Black Nurses 3 Association (NBNA) for its 40 years of advocacy for a 4 culturally diverse health care workforce and 5 recognizing February 2012 as “National Black Nurses 6 Association Month” in Florida. 7 8 WHEREAS, the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA), with 9 more than 150,000 members, represents registered nurses, 10 students, and retired nurses in 34 states through its 80 11 chartered chapters, and 12 WHEREAS, the NBNA supports the development of a culturally 13 diverse workforce in the health care field, and is a voice for 14 access to affordable and high-quality health care for all 15 Americans, and 16 WHEREAS, less than 5 percent of the nation’s registered 17 nurses are African Americans, and, while African Americans make 18 up a larger percentage of the population in Florida than in many 19 other states, there is still wide racial disparity, and 20 WHEREAS, the NBNA’s efforts include educating and mentoring 21 African Americans who are seeking nursing degrees, community 22 awareness, and the promotion of career advancement opportunities 23 for African Americans in the nursing field, and 24 WHEREAS, the NBNA is committed to ensuring quality of care 25 in the nation’s health care system, NOW, THEREFORE, 26 27 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 28 29 That the members of the Senate commend the National Black 30 Nurses Association (NBNA) for its 40 years of advocacy for a 31 culturally diverse health care workforce and recognize February 32 2012 as “National Black Nurses Association Month” in Florida.